Sonipat, Aug 8: Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today announced to increase the honorarium of Sarpanches (village heads) in the State from Rs 2000 to Rs 2500 and that of Panches (gram

Sonipat, Aug 8: Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today announced to increase the honorarium of Sarpanches (village heads) in the State from Rs 2000 to Rs 2500 and that of Panches (gram sabha members) from Rs 600 to Rs 800.

He also announced to give additional honorarium of Rs 100 to Sarpanches and Panches belonging to Scheduled Castes and backward classes.

Addressing the Panchayati Raj Sammelan at Rai in the district, Hooda also released second instalment of Rs 25,000 to the beneficiaries of Priyadarshini Awas Yojna (PAY).

He also distributed cheques to Sarpanches for the construction of ‘Chaupal’ (common sitting place) of Scheduled castes and backward classes.

Hooda said that the State Government is committed to ensure that every poor person has a roof over his head.

Under PAY, financial assistance would be provided to two lakh such families for construction of houses during a span of two years, he said.

He said that 1.10 lakh people have been registered under it and first instalment to 90,514 beneficiaries, second instalment to 66805 beneficiaries and third instalment to 17,881 beneficiaries had already been released.

About 20,000 houses have so far been constructed in the State, added Hooda.